But Jesus befriends and elevates children
Matthew 18:1-5 The disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “Unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.”
Matthew 19:13-15 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
Where Jesus is King, children are valued, welcomed, and blessed.
And healed.
When you and I come to him as children, God can heal what was harmed and provide what was missing when we were small. Like the little ones Jesus welcomed when he lived on earth, we too can receive the blessing of his comfort and care.
It’s OK to be little.
It’s OK to not know or to not know how to do something.
It’s OK to celebrate growing and learning.
Last weekend the Pittsburgh part of our family spent a lovely time together in eastern Pennsylvania, delighting in the waterfall hike at Ricketts Glen State Park. Hiking a steep and rugged 3.2-mile loop, we enjoyed eighteen waterfalls, from 11 feet to 94 feet high! No image can do them justice. Our little ones, at 6 and 3, are enthusiastic hikers! The song in Portuguese, Aguas Purificadoras by Ana Paula Valadão (start at 50 seconds), kept running through my head. Click here for English (start at 1 minute).
The Airbnb where we stayed had a ping-pong table. On Friday evening after we arrived, my six-year-old granddaughter didn’t succeed in hitting the ball so it would land on the other side of the table. She spent much of Saturday afternoon, evening, and Sunday begging any adult available to practice with her. By the time we left at 4:00 on Sunday, she could volley 12-15 times without missing!
Meanwhile, her three-year-old sister, who could barely see above the table, contented herself with hitting (or more often, throwing) a ping-pong ball all over the house. “I’m too little for that,” she told me, pointing to her sister, thrilled at her success. “But when I’m six, I’ll do it too.”
In the Kingdom of Heaven, embraced by the King, we will always be small.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, we will always be learning and growing.
In the Kingdom of Heaven, it’s OK to be little.
Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike (Mt 11:25).
Debra Kornfield 